“Adopt, don’t shop” is one of those sayings that has always driven me crazy. First of all, it’s just silly. Unless you walk into a shelter, take whatever dog they hand you, and leave without paying, you’re shopping. Second, and far more important, it’s just plain bad advice.

Let me start by making clear that I don’t think there’s anything wrong with adopting a rescue dog, if that’s the right decision for you and your family. And that’s a big “if”. The fact is that, for the most part, people don’t give up their well-behaved, super intuitive, easy to live with family pet. The vast majority of dogs in shelters were brought there due to some behavioural issue that the previous owner simply wasn’t able to cope with. Add in the fact that most shelters will only allow pure positive training, and you’re not likely to get a better dog coming out than going in. True, there are instances where people will simply decide they no longer want a pet, or need to give one up due to allergies in the family, but here’s the thing: you don’t know which is which.

When you bring home a rescue dog, you do not know what you are getting. You don’t know the dog's genetics (Were the parents prone to certain diseases? Were they prone to fear-based aggression?), and you don’t know the dog’s history (Was it abused? Did it have a negative experience with a child/person in uniform/man with a beard?). A dog’s behaviour is the result of a complex blend of nature, and nurture, and to adopt a rescue dog is to invite an animal into your home about which you know nothing of either factor. You’re rolling the dice.

Choosing to bring a dog into the home is a massive responsibility, especially if you have children. It is a long-term commitment that often enriches the lives of everyone in the family, but with a difficult dog can result in conflict, stress and even physical injury. Like any big decision, the key to making it work is to identify the things that could go wrong, and try to deal with them before they arise. With dogs, that’s a long list. And that’s where reputable breeders come in. A good breeder has put massive amounts of effort into eliminating as many as possible of the potential variables one can run into when bringing home a dog. Breeding to a breed standard attempts to ensure conformity not only in the dogs’ looks, but also in temperament. Going further, many breeders will select a puppy whose personality and drives best suit its new home, and some breeders will further eliminate variables by beginning the dog’s training for you before it goes home. When buying from a breeder, as much as is possible with a biological creature, you know what you’re going to get.

I completely understand the emotional sentiment behind “adopt, don’t shop”. I love dogs so much I gave up my career as a banker to dedicate my life to them, and the thought of dogs languishing in a shelter breaks my heart. But I also don’t believe people should feel morally obligated to make a decision that is very likely against the best interests of their family, just because of social pressure and a catchy slogan. If you’re experienced with dogs, know what you’re getting in to, are comfortable dealing with potential behavioural issues, and would prefer to rescue a dog than to buy from a breeder, my hat goes off to you. However, unless you are all of those things, please seriously consider the implications of adopting. The only thing worse than a dog going to a shelter once, is a dog going to a shelter more than once.

-Jamie